I looked in my blog archives to see if I have told the story of his birth and somehow I have not. I make sure I tell each one, on their birthdays, the story of the day they came into the world. I tell them how happy I was. I make sure they know that it was their very special day.
This is the story of Luke's day and how the world said, "we're so glad you are here."
To be honest, the day (actually the day before) did not start off very well. I was very sick with a nasty cold. My head was so congested that I couldn't breathe and my eyes were watering. My back had been hurting very badly, too. I was worried that it was what is called "back labor", so I called my doctor. She told me to come right in.
Bobbie, who was nursing a broken arm, decided to come to the doctor's office with me. She was obviously concerned. I was quite a sorry sight.
The doctor I saw that day was female and I am convinced that that is the reason she took such pity on me. You see, I was NOT in labor like I hoped. I was just yucky sick. But she understood and she said the magic words, "I think your blood pressure is a little elevated." I looked at her with hope in my eyes.
"I am going to admit you and induce labor."
I was so delighted I was speechless. You see, Luke, my pregnancy with you had been pretty miserable. I know that things could have been so much worse, but I was sick and uncomfortable my entire pregnancy. You were so worth the trouble, but I was ready for you to be out.
Bobbie and I got my paperwork and got in the car to drive to the hospital. I called your dad on my cell phone. The conversation went something like this.
"Gary, the doctor says my blood pressure is high and she wants to induce me."
"What?"
"They are going to admit me to the hospital and induce labor."
"Huh???"
"The baby. I am going to have the baby."
"Now?"
"Yes"
"You mean now? Right now?"
"Yes now. You remember I am pregnant, right?"
"Yeah, but now? You mean now?"
"Are you alright??? Is my dad there? Put my dad on the phone."
I told Dad to go get my suitcase and pick up Cole because we were going to have a baby.
A few hours later, your dad showed up at the hospital. By that time I was settled into my labor room. I was hungry and I still had my cold, but I knww there was an end in sight. And what a wonderful end it would be. The end of my labor would mean that you were here, Lukie.
The rest of the night and morning progressed nicely. The contractions were coming, but I had my epidural, so I was feeling okay. At about 11:00 a.m., the doctor came in to check me. My water had still not broken. He said that I was almost fully dialated and that you would be here in about in about 2 to 3 hours. He also ordered more epidural medication, since mine was wearing off.
About ten minutes later, I felt something strange. It felt like something moved.
"Gary," I said "go get the nurse, something is going on."
Your daddy left and quickly brought back the nurse. She checked and said "Oh my, this baby is coming now."
Well, I could have told her that. I had the urgent need to push.
"Don't push" she said rushing to call the doctor.
Well let me tell you something that I learned that day. Nature and a woman's body is a wonderful thing. It knows what it needs to do and nothing is going to stop it. That nurse should have told me to make it rain because I might have been able to do that!
Miss Shana, who was visiting looked out the window and saw the doctor running across the parking lot to the hospital entrance.
Things were moving very quickly now. Only guess what, it was too late to be getting more epidural medicine, so I was starting to feel everything.
Dr. Dukes (Stephen Dukes) burst into the room all sweating and huffing and puffing. He said I could push. So, push I did. Two good ones and you were out.
You seemed as surprised as we were.
You were a perfect newborn - a 10/10 on both Apgar scores. You had so much beautiful white blonde hair. You looked just like your daddy.
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My other memory of you when you were born was the morning after the day you were born. You had slept in the nursery to that I could have a good night's sleep. When I awoke early in the morning, I missed you and went looking for you. I found you in the nursery wrapped tight in a blanket, sleeping. You looked like a little burrito! I brought you back to my room and never let you go again.
